Cabinet clears doubling of teachers' award to ₹30k, ₹901-cr road projects

Time of India

a day ago

Patna: The state cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of wide-ranging proposals, from enhancing awards for teachers and reducing examination fees for aspirants to sanctioning major infrastructure projects and transferring land for new facilities.
Cabinet secretariat department additional chief secretary S Siddharth said the cash component of the state award for select schoolteachers has been doubled from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000. "The cash component of the award has been doubled to promote quality education in schools and also boost the morale of teachers. There is no fixed number as to the selection of the teachers for the conferment of the award. If there are more teachers eligible, the number could accordingly be increased," he said.
The award recognises exemplary performance by teachers in primary, middle, secondary and higher secondary schools. Earlier, the award was given to three teachers, but last year 42 teachers were honoured.
The cabinet also approved the state govt's holiday calendar for 2026, comprising 54 holidays in total. These include 11 general holidays, 22 optional or restricted holidays, 20 holidays under the National Instruments (NI) Act and a one-day bank accounting holiday on April 1, 2026.
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In a major relief for job aspirants, the cabinet sanctioned a cut in preliminary test (PT) examination fees to Rs 100 and waived fees for mains examinations. This will apply to tests conducted by the Bihar Public Service Commission, Bihar Staff Selection Commission, Bihar Technical Services Commission, Bihar Police Subordinate Services Commission and the Central Constable Selection Board, among others. CM Nitish Kumar had earlier announced the decision in his Independence Day address.
The cabinet further approved a proposal to celebrate the birth anniversary of freedom fighter, social worker and educationist Upendra Nath Verma as a state function on 23 August near his statue at Digghi tank in Gaya.
On the infrastructure front, the cabinet cleared two road and bridge projects worth Rs 901 crore in Nalanda and Patna districts. Of this, Rs 363 crore will be spent on a 7.40km four-lane approach road with a road overbridge from Rajgir sports complex and the international cricket stadium to Indo H Hotel via Kubri, Jaitipur and Fatehpur.
Officials said the road would facilitate smooth exit of spectators after matches and events while boosting economic and social activities in nearby villages.
A second project worth Rs 539 crore will see the conversion of the 19.40km Salepur-Narsanda-Telmar-Karota road into a four-lane stretch, alongside the construction of two flyovers, two large bridges, 13 minor bridges, 19 RCC box culverts and 34 pipe culverts.
The cabinet also cleared the establishment of the Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) headquarters at Katoria in Banka district. For this, 40 acres of govt land will be transferred free of cost to the home department.
Separately, the cabinet approved the transfer of two acres of barren land in Chausa circle, Madhepura district, to the Bihar State Power Transmission Company Limited for a 132/32 KV power grid sub-station. The company will pay Rs 2.25 crore to the revenue and land reforms department for the transfer.
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